This is a website that is dedicated to the memory of the 2/15th Battalion
Second AIF.

Caveant Hostes

Let Enemies beware!

Introduction to the Battalion

The 2/15th Infantry Battalion of the Second AIF was raised in Brisbane on 1 May 1940, and was disbanded in Brisbane on 21 January 1946.  It was an infantry battalion that was primarily raised in Queensland, as is shown by the army identification number prefix (QX) of most of its members during its life.

The battalion became a part of the 20th Brigade along with the 2/13th and 2/17th Battalions *. (latter link not working 13/12/08) As can be seen from the battle honours that are listed on the site, it was active in the Middle East and in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) - New Guinea and Borneo.   Although this Brigade was initially part of the Seventh Division, for most of its life it was part of the Ninth Division of the Second AIF.  When in the Middle East, it was part of the British Eighth Army and as such participated in the major battles at Tobruk and El Alamein .

A significant number of Australians were part of this battalion at some stage of their war service, and an index to their names is included. Also included are some relevant photographs and references that I have found or been given over the years.  To these have now been added a website with photos submitted by members or other donors .

At the cessation of hostilities and with the commencement of demobilisation of the Australian forces, a number of members voluntarily joined the 66th Infantry Battalion when it was formed from 9th Division troops on Morotai.  This new battalion was part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in Japan.  It was subsequently (in 1948) redesignated as 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.  So it could be said that the 2/15th continues on to this day.

See these websites for more information on the subsequent and current activities of 2RAR:-  2RARa 2RARb 2RARc 2RARd.  The 66th Battalion link shows the names of some 2/15th Bn members who died as part of the RAR in Korea .

I have created these pages out of an interest in following my father Thomas James (Jim) Laurie’s war service during the 1942-46 period as part of this battalion.

Some, but not all, of the detail comes from the unit history (see link under Publications and Media section.  I can highly recommend acquiring one, or at least tracking down a copy in a local library.

Much of other information comes from various web sites library sources, newsletters and my father's records as a member of the battalion.  The remainder comes courtesy of members and/or their relatives.

The Australian Government's WW2 Nominal Roll is a key source for information on individual soldiers.  So also the National Archives' WW2 Service record site, through which individual records can be ordered.

The AWM provides very interesting links to the 2/15th Battalion story and to its relevant collections.  Well worth the time to look at it.

See the Club's Main Page for recent information regarding the submission to them of photos of members who were killed in action.  These will in turn be submitted to the AWM.

The links and information associated with The 2/15th Battalion AIF Remembrance Club are included with the permission of the Secretary .

I’m very happy to make additions and/or corrections etc. Please email me.

Use the following Google facility to search the pages on my site.

David Laurie

Brisbane

* There may be Internet backup copies on some sites